Contamination control approach for the TAUVEX UV astronomical telescope
Abstract
The TAUVEX UV astronomical telescope, which is designed and manufactured by El-Op with the collaboration of the Tel-Aviv University Wise Observatory and sponsored by ISA (Israel Space Agency), consists of three identical telescopes operating in the 140 nm - 280 nm spectral range. This range is characterized by increased sensitivity to both molecular and particulate contaminants, which requires a strict contamination control approach. The present work describes the contamination control approach for TAUVEX that was jointly developed by Soreq NRC and El-Op. It covers all the project phases: design, manufacturing, integration, and testing. It contains various activities including contamination budget allocation, materials selection policy, theoretical analysis of molecular contamination due to outgassing and prediction of optical degradation in the space environment, experiments to measure transmission loss vs. contaminant concentration, special design features, assembly and testing environment, cleanliness control of thermal vacuum and vibration tests and selection and use of monitoring equipment.
- Publication:
-
8th Meeting on Optical Engineering in Israel: Optical Engineering and Remote Sensing
- Pub Date:
- August 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.151022
- Bibcode:
- 1993SPIE.1971..276N